January 9, 2015: Sneak peek of new Toyota Tacoma pickup; MN and TN seek more transportation funds; Trucking in space at heart of new video game.

Here is a look at what is happening in the world of transportation this morning:

• A California business group wins the first stage of its lawsuit against diesel particulate filter (DPF) regulations enacted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), notes KRCR News 7.
• Toyota is showing off what it calls an “advanced look” at its new 2016 model Tacoma mid-size pickup redesign, reports The Car Connection.
• A new advocacy coalition is forming in Tennessee to argue for more transportation funding in the Volunteer State, according to the Nashville Business Journal – a coalition comprised of trucking companies, road builders, and others.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton wants to raise gasoline taxes and hike other fees to boost transportation funding, according to Minnesota Public Radio – and is challenging the North State State’s business community to support his effort.
• California Gov. Jerry Brown in planning an ambitious energy makeover for the Golden State during his last term in office, notes the Sacramento Bee – part of it aiming to cut gasoline use and deploy more electric cars.
• More truckers serving the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles should be allowed to decide whether to unionize or not, argues an editorial in the Los Angeles Daily News.
• A North Carolina study projects that 1,500 trucks may be needed to serve one fracking site, notes the News Observer – possibly resulting in millions of dollars in extra road repairs for the Tar Heel state.
• Data tracked by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates cross-border truck trade increased 7.2% last October, reports Logistics Management.
• Tow truck operators explains the WZZM 13 how they adjust their driving patterns to compensate for snowy weather.
• A one-of-a-kind “Christmas Truck” that lights up I-35 near Ft. Worth is going to stay lit up through February, the owner tells WFAA 8.
• China’s factory gate prices fell sharply – the biggest decline in two years, according to the Financial Times – fueling worries that deflation is engulfing the world’s second largest economy.
• A new video game review by Bleeding Cool News called Elite: Dangerous centers around hauling cargo to far-flung galaxies – basically “trucking in space” for all intents and purposes.